Stories by Eddie Arruza
In Chicago’s Humboldt Park, Relief for Puerto Rican Evacuees
| Eddie Arruza
During a tour of a newly established relief center, Mayor Rahm Emanuel reemphasized that Chicago will remain a welcoming city and blasted the federal government for its response to Hurricane Maria.
WTTW Documentary Takes Fresh Look at Chicago River
| Erica Gunderson
Like the city that grew around it, the Chicago River is constantly changing. Get a preview of “The Chicago River Tour with Geoffrey Baer.”
Declining CPS Enrollment Could Lead to More School Closings
| Alexandra Silets
With CPS enrollment down by 32,000—and the school-closing moratorium coming to an end—is another wave of Chicago school closings possible? WBEZ reporter Sarah Karp joins us in discussion.
Chris Kennedy, J.B. Pritzker Release Partial Tax Returns
| Amanda Vinicky
Amid forecasts that Illinois’ race for governor could break national spending records, two Democratic candidates have released information that begins to show just how much money each has to help fund their campaigns.
Senators Concerned About Delay in Finalizing Asian Carp Plan
| Alex Ruppenthal
Nearly a dozen U.S. senators, including Dick Durbin of Illinois, are speaking out about the latest delay over a plan to keep invasive Asian carp out of the Great Lakes.
CPS Asks State to Help Reform Special Education Offerings
| Matt Masterson
CPS leaders want the Illinois State Board of Education to make sure the district is following best practices with its special ed programming, admitting “fundamental changes” are necessary.
Researchers to Design App to Reduce Back-to-Back Pregnancies in Teens
| Kristen Thometz
In an effort to reduce the number of back-to-back pregnancies among adolescents, Chicago researchers are designing a multimedia tool kit to educate, engage and offer resources to young women.
Smoking Rates Drop in Young Adults Following Tobacco 21 Law, City Says
| Kristen Thometz
Since the minimum age to purchase tobacco products in Chicago was increased to 21 in July 2016, fewer young adults in the city are smoking, according to data from a newly released survey.
NEIU to Offer In-State Tuition for Students From Puerto Rico
| Alex Ruppenthal
As Puerto Ricans recover from extensive damage caused by Hurricane Maria, students from the island can now get a discount at one Chicago university.
10 Things to Do This Thanksgiving Weekend: Nov. 22-26
| Rebecca Palmore
Holiday markets, pop-up festivals, giant balloons, magic shows and indoor snow usher in the holiday weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.
30 Years Later, Notorious ‘Max Headroom Incident’ Remains a Mystery
| Jay Shefsky
Chicago television has a rich and colorful history. But few moments are quite as colorful—or bizarre—as the incident that happened to this very station in 1987.
City, County Overwhelmingly Approve 2018 Budgets
| Paris Schutz
Chicagoans will soon be paying a little more for ride-sharing services and for big concerts at places like the United Center and Wrigley Field. But with the soda tax long gone, what is the fate of county jobs?
Ask Geoffrey: Neptune’s Follies Make a Splash at Century of Progress
| Erica Gunderson
Geoffrey Baer takes a peek at a 1930s burlesque-style show and remembers the Chicago Daily News sporting events of yesteryear in this encore edition of “Ask Geoffrey.”
Remembering Harold Washington, Chicago’s 1st African-American Mayor
| Eddie Arruza
As we approach the 30th anniversary of his death, a discussion about the legacy of former Chicago Mayor Harold Washington with local filmmaker Joe Winston and former news anchor Robin Robinson.
BGA: Illinois Nuclear Plants Leak, Spill Radioactive Water
| Nick Blumberg
Radioactive water leaking from Illinois nuclear power plants, despite promised safeguards—an investigative reporter on what’s been done.
Words and Wisdom About ‘Aging Thoughtfully’ in New Book
| Andrea Guthmann
In a culture obsessed with youth and beauty, aging can be an ugly topic. The co-authors of a new book discuss retirement, romance, wrinkles and more.
$300M for Great Lakes Program Passes Hurdle in Senate
| Alex Ruppenthal
A key federal program responsible for protecting the Great Lakes is one step closer to being fully funded after it was targeted for massive cuts earlier this year in President Donald Trump’s proposed budget.
State Creates Program to Find Missing People with Alzheimer’s Disease
| Kristen Thometz
The new Silver Search program provides education and resources to help locate people who have Alzheimer’s disease or dementia when they go missing.
Cook County Jail Population Down 15 Percent After Bond Reforms
| Amanda Vinicky
Reforms to Cook County’s bond system have led to a 15-percent decrease in the county’s jail population. “Our judges are in fact not setting bonds higher than people can afford,” said Chief Judge Tim Evans.
Indiana Agency Hasn’t Turned Over Records on Toxic Spill, Chicago Says
| Alex Ruppenthal
Records related to an April spill of a toxic metal into a Lake Michigan tributary have not been given to Chicago. The city is now threatening to sue U.S. Steel.
Todd Stroger to Challenge Toni Preckwinkle
| Brandis Friedman
The field to take on Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle is growing. Todd Stroger, who formerly held the post, is announcing plans to run for his old office next year.
Environmentalist Ma Jun: Millions Exposed to Pollution in China
| Alexandra Silets
China’s most prominent environmental activist talks about the country’s pollution crisis.
New UChicago Course Examines Legacy of Nuclear Age
| Alex Ruppenthal
The days when Americans fretted over an imminent U.S.-Soviet nuclear showdown might be over, but the consequences of a new nuclear age are still reverberating today.
Exploring the Technology Behind IIT’s Microgrid
| Paul Caine
A new mini power grid supplied by wind and solar helps the Illinois Institute of Technology meet its 21st century power needs.
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